Project ECHO

ECHO Trans Care BC: Gender-Affirming Primary Care is a free advanced medical education course for health care providers interested in learning more about gender-affirming medical care for trans, Two-Spirit A term used within some Indigenous communities to reflect complex Indigenous understandings of gender and sexuality and the long history of sexual and gender diversity in Indigenous cultures. Two-Spirit encompasses sexual, gender, cultural and spiritual identity. It may refer to cross-gender, multi-gender or non-binary gender roles, non-heterosexual identities, and a range of cultural identities, roles and practices embodied by Two-Spirit peoples. Some people also use "2-Spirit" or "2S." (Source: Battered Women’s Support Services) and non-binary Umbrella term referring to people whose gender does not fall within the binary gender system of woman/girl or man/boy. Some individuals identify as non-binary while others may use terms such as gender non-conforming, genderqueer, or agender. Non-binary people may or may not conform to societal expectations for their gender expression and gender role, and they may or may not seek gender-affirming medical or surgical care. patients. The goal of this course is to better equip providers to support their patients and prepare them to take on new patients. 

Overview

The ECHO curriculum is divided into two parts. Each part is accredited separately. Part 1 is a prerequisite for Part 2 (unless participants already have significant experience in gender-affirming care Processes through which a health care system cares for and supports an individual while recognizing and acknowledging their gender and expression. ). 

Part 1

Part 1 consists of 6 sessions (2 hours each) over 6 months. Sessions are virtual and participants will earn 12 Mainpro+ credits upon completion of Part 1.

Topics covered in Part 1 include:

• Gender-affirming relational practice
• Talking about gender and gender goals
• Confirming a diagnosis: gender incongruence A mismatch between a person's gender and the sex they were assigned at birth. and gender dysphoria Distress resulting from a difference between a person’s gender and their sex assigned at birth, associated gender role, and/or primary and secondary sex characteristics. (Source: WPATH)
• Estrogen-based hormone therapy
• Testosterone-based hormone therapy
• Hormone readiness assessment An evaluation conducted by a health care professional to determine if a patient is ready to begin hormone therapy or have gender-affirming surgery.

Next cohort intake: January 2026

Part 2

Part 2 consists of 8 sessions (2 hours each) over 8 months. Sessions are virtual and participants will earn 16 Mainpro+ credits upon completion of Part 2.

Topics covered in Part 2 include:

• Youth & families
• Sexual health care & screening Process of checking for signs of a health issue or medical condition before symptoms appear.
• Addressing health misinformation
• Upper surgeries
• Infant feeding
• Gonadectomy The surgical removal of either the testes or the ovaries. & fertility conversations
• Vaginoplasty A gender-affirming genital surgery to create a vulva (including mons, labia, clitoris and urethral opening) and vagina. & vulvoplasty A gender-affirming genital surgery to create a vulva (including mons, labia, clitoris and urethral opening) and remove the penis, scrotum and testes. Vulvoplasty creates the external aspects of a vulva without creation of a vaginal canal.
• Phalloplasty A gender-affirming lower surgery to create a penis and scrotal sac (phase 1) followed by testicular implants and implants to obtain rigidity/erection (phases 2 and 3). , metoidioplasty A gender-affirming lower surgery to create a penis. Metoidioplasty involves cutting ligaments around the clitoris to add length to the shaft and grafting skin around the shaft to create more girth. Optional additional procedures include scrotoplasty and urethral lengthening. & erectile tissue release This procedure creates a penis by cutting the ligaments around the erectile tissue (clitoris), so the shaft falls away from the body, giving it a more pronounced appearance. surgeries 

Next cohort intake: April 2026

How to register

Join our mailing list to be notified when registration is available.

Pre-requisites

If you plan to join the program, you must take the following online course prior to starting.